What's the Buddha got to say about instincts? Could the mastering of instincts be equivalent to attaining nibhanna?...could this be why animals can't attain nibhanna (because they seemingly have no realization that instincts program alot of their behavior and so can not figure a way to eliminate that programming)?....could could could.....??????....I don't know...do you?chownah

---The trouble is that you think you have time------Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe------It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---

chownah wrote:What's the Buddha got to say about instincts? Could the mastering of instincts be equivalent to attaining nibhanna?...could this be why animals can't attain nibhanna (because they seemingly have no realization that instincts program alot of their behavior and so can not figure a way to eliminate that programming)?....could could could.....??????....I don't know...do you?chownah

I would say you'd want to be mastering Intention.

Whether that intention arises out of instinct or something else noticing intention is where you have the opportunity to change the outcome.

“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.” ― Ajahn Chah

Note1.This term — anusaya — is usually translated as "underlying tendency" or "latent tendency." These translations are based on the etymology of the term, which literally means, "to lie down with." However, in actual usage, the related verb (anuseti) means to be obsessed with something, for one's thoughts to return and "lie down with it" over and over again. See also: AN 7.12

สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ

the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat

My first take on "anusaya" was that it is not the same thing as "instinct"....but after a bit of thought it seems to me that while it is not what is ordinarily thought of as instinct it can be viewed as being a cluster of instincts not usually recognized in western thought....I guess.chownah